Work Live or Live to Work?: Arlie Hochschild’s Theories on Labor With the job market becoming increasingly competitive, the interactions between an employee and their customers, clients, or colleagues continue to have a substantial impact on how successful they will be in their field of work. As the role of the employee changes, workers will be required to complete certain tasks that they may not have initially expected. Arlie Hochschild, one of the major sociologists associated with symbolic-interaction theory, speaks about the employee’s changing role. In her book The Managed Heart: Commercialization of Human Feeling, Hochschild expands upon Karl Marx’s thoughts from Das Kapital by analyzing a unique conundrum that employees face when
…show more content…
When discussing the “second shift,” Hochschild takes a close look at mothers in particular, claiming that they are emotionally exhausted and have less leisure time than fathers. According to Hochschild, the workplace has become more like home, while home has become more like work. Hochschild uses the example of company-sponsored parties and family reunions, finding that more people gather together as employees rather than family. However, work relationships are considered less significant than family relationships since they are not natural or voluntary. Because of how competitive the workforce has become, Hochschild finds that parents overvalue their role as employees and are in denial about how much time they should be spending with their children (Weeks, 2009). Furthermore, Hochschild believes that parents have redefined their children’s needs to fit their work demands by focusing more on quality interactions as opposed to spending large amounts of time together (Milkie, Raley, & Bianchi, 2009). As a result, Hochschild has advocated for greater emotional investments in family life and reduced working hours for parents. Although the United States has long debated a variety of policies to help working parents, some European countries have already taken a stance on this position. …show more content…
With all the advances in technology, jobs that were once crucial to the functioning of society have become obsolete and have been replaced with more service-oriented jobs. This has forced people to not only have a certain skillset before applying for a job, but to also be mindful of how they are presenting themselves to the people they work with. Furthermore, with enhanced levels of communication, people can now be at work anytime and anywhere. As a result, balancing one’s home life with their work life has become all the more arduous, particularly for families. When considering Hochschild’s theories, it is evident that the workforce has put a significant strain on how people go about their careers and lives. Not only must people be mindful of how they behave in the workplace, but with the popularity of social media, people must also watch how they act when not on the job, since inappropriate behaviors could lead to life-altering consequences. Hochschild’s research highlights the changing climate of the workforce and the possibility of having to learn and perform new skills throughout one’s career. In addition, it will be imperative to find a balance between our roles as employees and our roles as parents, husbands, wives, aunts, or uncles. Regardless of how much one may enjoy
When discussing the “second shift,” Hochschild takes a close look at mothers in particular, claiming that they are emotionally exhausted and have less leisure time than fathers. According to Hochschild, the workplace has become more like home, while home has become more like work. Hochschild uses the example of company-sponsored parties and family reunions, finding that more people gather together as employees rather than family. However, work relationships are considered less significant than family relationships since they are not natural or voluntary. Because of how competitive the workforce has become, Hochschild finds that parents overvalue their role as employees and are in denial about how much time they should be spending with their children (Weeks, 2009). Furthermore, Hochschild believes that parents have redefined their children’s needs to fit their work demands by focusing more on quality interactions as opposed to spending large amounts of time together (Milkie, Raley, & Bianchi, 2009). As a result, Hochschild has advocated for greater emotional investments in family life and reduced working hours for parents. Although the United States has long debated a variety of policies to help working parents, some European countries have already taken a stance on this position. …show more content…
With all the advances in technology, jobs that were once crucial to the functioning of society have become obsolete and have been replaced with more service-oriented jobs. This has forced people to not only have a certain skillset before applying for a job, but to also be mindful of how they are presenting themselves to the people they work with. Furthermore, with enhanced levels of communication, people can now be at work anytime and anywhere. As a result, balancing one’s home life with their work life has become all the more arduous, particularly for families. When considering Hochschild’s theories, it is evident that the workforce has put a significant strain on how people go about their careers and lives. Not only must people be mindful of how they behave in the workplace, but with the popularity of social media, people must also watch how they act when not on the job, since inappropriate behaviors could lead to life-altering consequences. Hochschild’s research highlights the changing climate of the workforce and the possibility of having to learn and perform new skills throughout one’s career. In addition, it will be imperative to find a balance between our roles as employees and our roles as parents, husbands, wives, aunts, or uncles. Regardless of how much one may enjoy